In the afternoon, Aunt Li dragged her tired body to the community clinic. This septuagenarian has wrinkles full of vicissitudes of time, but recently her face has become a little more worried. "Doctor, my poop has been weird lately, it's always hard in the front and soft in the back, what's wrong?"
The doctor looked up at her, his eyes revealing a bit of professional seriousness. "Let's take our time and describe your situation in detail. So, Aunt Li began to describe her eating habits and life rules in recent times, as well as some "family research" she quietly did on this issue.
1. Indication of changes in stool consistency
In medicine, the quality of the stool is a mirror of people's health. It not only reflects the functional state of the digestive system, but also indirectly shows possible problems with other systems.
As described by Aunt Li, "the front is dry and hard, and the back is soft and sticky", which is medically called "sheep feces", is often a sign of intestinal dysfunction.
Dry, hard stools usually mean that the water in the intestines is overabsorbed, which may be due to constipation caused by food staying in the intestines for too long and slow bowel movements.
The soft stickiness at the back may indicate a faster passage of intestinal contents, or an increase in intestinal secretion. This condition may be a modulation of intestinal reflex that attempts to push the hard stool in front of it by increasing secretion and peristalsis.
However, such stool quality can also be a sign of some diseases. For example, in patients with hemorrhoids or anal fissures, the pain during bowel movements can irritate the intestines, causing the stool to soften at the back, and intestinal inflammation, such as colitis, can cause similar symptoms due to inflammation.
In more severe cases, it may also be caused by intestinal tumors, particularly rectal tumors, which can interfere with the normal passage of stool, causing constipation, and the substance secreted by the tumor can soften the back part of the stool.
2. Digestion process and stool formation
Food starts in the mouth and is gradually broken down into smaller molecules through chewing and digestive enzymes. Subsequently, gastric juices are mixed in the stomach to form chyme, which then enters the small intestine.
In the small intestine, chyme is further broken down and absorbed by the villi on the wall of the small intestine, where most of the nutrient absorption is done.
Subsequently, the unabsorbed residue enters the large intestine and the water recovery process begins. At the same time, microorganisms in the large intestine also break down these residues, producing some gases and other metabolites.
During this process, if the water is overcycled or the bowel movements are not coordinated, constipation or stool of different characteristics may occur.
In addition, eating habits, water intake, exercise, and even psychological stress can affect the digestive process and the formation of stool.
When the body is in a state of stress, the body's stress response may cause intestinal peristalsis to speed up or slow down, affecting the quality of stool.
Also, different food groups can affect the shape of the stool, with high-fiber foods often helping to soften stools, while high-fat, low-fiber foods can cause constipation.
3. Common situations
Changes in stool quality are usually closely related to diet, lifestyle habits, and physical health. In clinical practice, doctors will conduct a comprehensive analysis according to the different manifestations of stool and the specific situation of the patient.
For example, Aunt Li's "dry and hard front and soft and sticky back" stool is actually a relatively common phenomenon, and there are many possible reasons behind it.
In general, not drinking enough water is the leading cause of hard and dry stools. When the body does not consume enough water to maintain the normal functioning of the body, the water in the large intestine will be absorbed more, resulting in the excreted feces losing their due water and becoming hard.
In addition, insufficient fiber intake can also exacerbate constipation. Dietary fiber can help increase stool volume, stimulate intestinal peristalsis, and promote bowel movements. Therefore, a low-fiber diet is a negative factor for gut health.
Reduced physical activity can also affect bowel habits. Lack of exercise can cause bowel movements to slow down, weakening the bowel's ability to push stool, which in turn can lead to constipation.
Changes in bowel movements can also occur as a side effect of certain medications, such as some pain medications and high blood pressure medications. Older people are also more likely to suffer from constipation due to weakened bowel function, and sometimes even if the diet and exercise are normal, intestinal peristalsis may be uncoordinated.
Fourth, special symptoms are associated with diseases
In some cases, a "hard and dry stool at the front and soft at the back" may indicate a specific pathological condition. For symptoms like Aunt Li's, the doctor may consider a deeper intestinal problem.
For example, inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, often causes inflammation of the intestines, affecting the normal function of the intestinal wall, and patients may experience alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation.
In addition to inflammatory bowel disease, colon and rectal cancer is also one of the important causes that need to be ruled out. The growth of the tumor may cause intestinal obstruction, which initially manifests as constipation;
However, when the tumor secretion increases, the patient may have a soft and sticky part of the stool after defecation. Therefore, for middle-aged and elderly people with similar symptoms, doctors usually recommend colonoscopy or other related imaging tests to check for intestinal tumors.
In addition, people with diabetes can also have similar bowel problems due to the effects of autonomic neuropathy. In diabetic patients, bowel movements may become sluggish due to poor blood sugar control, which is also a cause of constipation.
Of course, in addition to the above-mentioned diseases, long-term mental stress and mood swings can also have a negative impact on a person's gut health, thus affecting the shape and quality of stool.
5. The importance of lifestyle adjustment and medical examination
Whether it's a hard, dry stool followed by a soft stool, or any other abnormal body signal, it could be a warning that the body is sending us.
In the case of Aunt Li, the doctor will not only recommend her for a detailed medical examination, but also emphasize the importance of lifestyle adjustment. In fact, good lifestyle habits have a decisive impact on gut health.
In terms of diet, you need to increase your fiber intake, such as eating some whole grains, fruits and vegetables and other natural foods. Cellulose absorbs water and expands, helping to increase the volume of stool, stimulating intestinal peristalsis, and promoting smoother bowel movements.
At the same time, it is also necessary to ensure adequate water intake, which is not only conducive to the expansion of cellulose, but also can directly lubricate the intestines and reduce the frictional resistance of feces in the intestines.
In addition, regular daily routine, especially maintaining a certain amount of physical exercise, can effectively promote intestinal blood circulation and enhance intestinal peristalsis.
For the elderly, proper walking, jogging, tai chi, etc. are all good options. For patients who take certain medications for a long time and may affect bowel movements, it is necessary to communicate with their doctors in time to seek possible alternatives or adjust their medication plans.
summary
In daily life, maintaining a healthy diet, adequate water and fiber intake, and maintaining appropriate physical activity are all effective measures to maintain intestinal health.
Let's start now, take care of our bodies, respect the laws of nature, and cherish every day we have.